On the road again.....

So good to be back on the walkabout. Checked out Showcase and found this cool dance place called The Atlas Club 62,36,38 - it is located in a huge airship. Steampunk is fun.

Then I just opened up the map, closed my eyes and chose a place to land - it was Lebn's Garden, 84,238,29 - found myself in the middle of a trivia game that happens on every Sunday at noon. When that was over, most of the group moved over to Monochrome 137,33,751, where not only were we dirty dancing, we were still playing trivia! I met Thornton Writer (fellow 57 years old person!) who told me about some other cool trivia events on SL. Playing a trivia game 1) knocks out the cobwebs in these old brains, 2) staves off alzheimer's, 3) keeps you off the streets, and most importantly, 4) lets you meet new people who are just as goofy as you are.

Later, dudes.....

Some of My Favorite Places

There is a song....these are a few of my favorite things....well, here are a few of my favorite spots on SL. I expect as my travels continue, this list will grow, so here are the ones I started with before the adventure began.

Tempura - 125,132,33 - here is a pic of me dancing in the meadow just a few steps away from the landing zone. I don't care where you go and landmark on Tempura, you will land in the same spot when you return, so my advice is....move as soon as you get there! And turn on your music stream - the sounds are lovely. This is one of the most creative and beautiful sims on SL - at least that I have found so far. There is a ballroom, meadows, lovely red trees, and yes, some little huts where you can do your heavy breathing... or so I have been told.

Africa is at 50,27,21 and you can ride a zebra around the sim. Watch out for the termite ants (army ants?). You can dance, take a balloon ride, tiptoe past the pride of lions or go into the huts for heavy breathing...or so I have been told. Jurian and I found this sim back in November and there was no one there but the critters. Now the place is very busy. African music, waterfall, raging river, monkeys, a beach, mountains, fun spot for exploring.

Catcher in the Pie, 185,142,26, is a gathering place for writers and readers, and you can post your writing on the wall (one of mine is currently there) for all to read. They have special events there as well - cute name, yes?I am in there somewhere floating among the planets, at Ethereal Sensations Space Park - chose a poseball that said Sky Float. This sim is amazing, the music changes often - sometimes Arabic, sometimes Native American, sometimes Nickelback (yea!), and there are some pose balls I have never seen before. This is a good place to take a date if you want to do something besides dance, or heavy breathing.

While wandering around tonight, I caught up with several of my friends: Cyan, Deft, Melonpipps, Straton Tigerpaw, Parrot (who is to blame for all of this), Knilly.....and earlier in the day, danced with my darling Pardoes at Top Hat, 54,222,41. Missed all of my friends!

Ended up the evening at Garden of DaVinci, 37,105,26, where I met Dreams Magic, from Quebec, and had a nice relaxing conversation around the fire.

I started this adventure with the hope that I would learn more about myself along the way - but did not expect a revelation would come so quickly! While searching for new places on SL, I have, in RL, been searching for direction. This blog has helped me refine one of my dreams into a goal: to support my Real Life as a writer. This means a lot more Peanut Butter and Jelly Sandwiches, Top Ramen and no HBO in my future....but, there you go.

Or should I say, here I go.........

Finally! After exploring over 20 sims I finally found another avatar! Met Zack Coberts sitting by a lovely fire on a peaceful sim called Reydiant, at 150,147,301. Zack is a SL helper, and is working with me to take better pix (this one was before his training began). Reydiant is a pretty place, and the creator obviously likes the color teal. I landmarked this one for future visits, when my travels are done. And I was lucky enough to add Zack as a friend, too!

Where is everyone?

So far I have visited 14 sims. Once leaving my starting point, I have not seen another avi anywhere. Tartarus at 153,292,251, would not allow me to land there. AP Lands, 165,135,250 offers Pixie Villas, where you can live in peace and in your leisure, engage in the Dark Forest Slave Hunt.......ewwwwww. Narju 186,77,162 has a little house on an island and from the notes in the creator's profile, I shudder to think what happens there.

Athens II, 149,150,162, - looks like someone is building a corporate island here? But it is not finished. Softland, 84, 183, 57, calls itself a french sanctuary but the heavy metal music did not seem serene to me, and what do you know... more torture machines.

I was ready for some peace and quiet when I landed at Sanctus Domus, Salaam Shores, at 128,128,0 - beautiful simple little place with gardens, beach, rock diving, and even a record player between two lawn chairs, playing music from the 40's.

I stayed there at Salaam Shores a while, planning my next tp - I am enjoying this sim-hopping, but sure would be nice to find someone to talk to in these lands (except at the dungeons and torture places) . Am I lonely? No, I have lots of friends to talk to through IM chatting as I make my way through SL - but I have to wonder, when I log on and see that there are 74,000 others online with me right now - where are they?

Here we go!

Decided to begin this journey from Wild Spirt, home of Hearthrobs and SL Roundabout, the new SL magazine I will be doing some writing for - have to keep busy! Wandered around this sim, and really impressed with the marketing here. Unlike many places, Pari is not just trying to sell things, she has created a nice place to hang out. Lots of green dots here, so people must like it. There are several places to just sit and listen to the music if you are alone, or sit with a lover. You can even get married here, although that is something PN will NEVER do. All in all, a very pleasant sim, located at 49,96,22 and found by searching "Hearthrobs" or "SL Roundabout".

Trying to be methodical with this walkabout, so next stop was the next island over to the west: Syms Island, 123,142,34. Rezzed into a dark dungeon. PN does not like dark dungeons. Left.

Next stop almost hurt my little avi eyes as I rezzed on Fiera SL, 109,128,251 - so bright! Even on the map of the world it stands out! It is the home to some corporation, but since PN is an American and we are famous for our inability to speak any language other than our own, I have no idea what Fiera makes. Perhaps the owners might consider one of those signs to be in English? There are sure plenty of signs, and then a dance floor right in the middle of them. LOL - "honey, remember the night you proposed to me, with the light of the billboard shining in your eyes?" Loved the bright use of primary colors in the design of this sim, but nothing to keep me there unless my translator works on the written word as well.

Reason for the Journey

Today, contemplating the beginning of my fourth year on Second Life, and chatting with my eclectic artist friend, Parrot, I made the decision to begin this journey, a walkabout of Second Life. I have always ben an explorer here; Parrot suggested I make my way across the continents, and it appealed to me. I am not a shopper, and I do not go to the clubs. I have always been enchanted by the creativity of SL residents, and often spend my hours on SL by sim-hopping.

I almost left SL this week for good. It is not an easy place for someone who is single in RL and holds out the foolish hope that someday the right avatar, who is hooked to the right man, might show up....I need something to occupy my imagination. So, PN is putting the bullet proof armor on her heart again, taking a deep breath, and starting out on a new adventure. Look out world, here she comes.